Department of General Practice, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

(a4)

Department of Health Organization, Policy and Economics, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

(a5)

Department of Health Organization, Policy and Economics, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands

(a6)

Department of Health, Ethics and Society/Metamedica, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Computerised cognitive–behavioural therapy (CCBT) might offer a solution to the current undertreatment of depression.

Aims

To determine the clinical effectiveness of online, unsupported CCBT for depression in primary care.

Method

Three hundred and three people with depression were randomly allocated to one of three groups: Colour Your Life; treatment as usual (TAU) by a general practitioner; or Colour Your Life and TAU combined. Colour Your Life is an online, multimedia, interactive CCBT programme. No assistance was offered. We had a 6-month follow-up period.

Results

No significant differences in outcome between the three interventions were found in the intention-to-treat and per protocol analyses.

Conclusions

Online, unsupported CCBT did not outperform usual care, and the combination of both did not have additional effects. Decrease in depressive symptoms in people with moderate to severe depression was moderate in all three interventions. Online CCBT without support is not beneficial for all individuals with depression.

The trial was financed by ZonMw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; project number 945-04-417), research institute EPP and research institute CAPHRI. Municipalities Eijsden, Meerssen, Sittard-Geleen, Valkenburg and Maastricht sponsored the study. The study sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Declaration of interest

None.

Footnotes

The trial was financed by ZonMw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development; project number 945-04-417), research institute EPP and research institute CAPHRI. Municipalities Eijsden, Meerssen, Sittard-Geleen, Valkenburg and Maastricht sponsored the study. The study sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Department of General Practice, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

(a4)

Department of Health Organization, Policy and Economics, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

(a5)

Department of Health Organization, Policy and Economics, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands

(a6)

Department of Health, Ethics and Society/Metamedica, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

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